Facebook Firing: will they become commonplace?

ESPN reported this Monday that a Philadelphia Eagles employee was recently fired after posting a negative Facebook status message about his employer. Ranting about how the Eagles let Brian Dawkins sign with the Denver Broncos, the post included several expletives directed at the Eagles franchise.

I see two sides to this situation.  On the one hand, I am sure worse sentiments were shared by fellow Eagles fans on their own Facebook pages, but at the same time, employers should not stand for libel or slander against their company (especially when dolled out by their own). Is it realistic for companies to expect constant decorum from their employees on their personal time and personal social profiles?

The 6-year employee of the Philadelphia Eagles is not the only instance where someone faced severe consequences after letting their emotions fly on a social media outlet. Geary’s Organic Media Manager Andrew Rodrigues says this situation is a great example of how companies need to institute a corporate policy about social media because this is not an isolated case.

Do employees have the right to post comments about their employers on their personal profiles? Is a Facebook post any different from criticizing your job to friends at a bar or restaurant?